Russia-hosted talks on the war in Syria are being held in Sochi without the representation of any major opposition group.

Turkey-backed rebel figures have refused to leave the Russian city’s airport in a last-minute protest.

An amateur video obtained by Al Jazeera on Tuesday showed a group of Syrian opposition delegates, who had arrived from Ankara late on Monday, waiting for a flight back to Turkey.

“Late last night, there was a kerfuffle down at the airport here – distressed Turkish officials running around trying to persuade a group of Turkish-backed opposition delegates to leave the airport,” said Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands, reporting from Sochi, referring to Monday evening.

“They apparently didn’t want to come out of the airport buildings because they had seen Syrian government flags plastered all over the branding for this Sochi conference, and that upset them.”

New constitution

The Sochi event, officially known as a Syrian Congress of National Dialogue, aims to foster an agreement between the government and the opposition to form a commission to write a new constitution for the war-torn country, Challands said.

But that seemed unlikely to happen without backing from major opposition figures.

The Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), the country’s main opposition group, said following two days of UN-led talks in Vienna last week it would not attend the Sochi congress.

The SNC accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers of continuing to rely on military might and showing no willingness to enter into honest negotiations.

Authorities from Syria’s Kurdish autonomous region said at the weekend they would also boycott the event because of the ongoing Turkish offensive on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

“The belief among the opposition has always been that the Sochi conference, and probably this commission as well, is essentially representing Moscow and Damascus interests,” Challands said.

“They, along with Turkey, have been saying over the past few hours and days that perhaps they would agree with the proposals of the commission as long as it is limited and focused on maintaining direction towards Geneva [the UN-curated peace process].”

He added the opposition groups believed talks in Geneva were going to ultimately give the final peace settlement for Syria.

“And Turkey and the Syrian opposition groups do not want anything to deviate from that.”

The Sochi conference was originally scheduled to be a two-day event, but it was shortened to a one-day forum on Tuesday.

Russia’s Tass news agency on Tuesday cited the forum’s organising committee as saying that 1,511 out of more than 1,600 invited delegates arrived in Sochi for the event from Syria, Geneva, Cairo, Moscow and Ankara.

The committee source reportedly said 107 delegates were representing the Syrian “domestic” opposition, including Qadri Jamil from “the Moscow platform”, Randa Kassis from “the Astana platform”, Syria’s Tomorrow Movement led by Ahmad Jarba, Haytham Manna from National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change and representatives of the Civil Movement.

The committee source broke down the ethnicities of the participants, saying the majority were Arabs. Kurds, Yazidis, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Chechens, Dagestanis, Abkhazians, Turkmens and Druze were also represented, according to the source.

Inside Syria, clashes and air raids by the Turkish army continued against Syrian Kurdish fighters in Afrin on the eve of the Sochi congress on Monday, with new civilian casualties reported.

In neighbouring Idlib, at least 23 civilians were killed on Monday in air raids launched by Syrian government warplanes, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and Syrian Civil Defence.

Bengaluru: Sankara Eye Hospital recognized as one of the specialist eye care infirmary in the country has organized a one-day medical forum, ‘Shikshana 2018’ at Vivanta by Taj, M.G Road, Bangalore. Almost 130 doctors participated from various regions of the state and country as this is a platform to interact and learn from the stalwarts in the field regarding preferred current practices and recent advances in the ocular field. Shikshana the daylong conference organised by Sankara Eye Hospital Bangalore, had over 100 doctors deliberate on aspects of orbit , oculoplasty and neuro ophthalmology.

The session provided practical information regarding concepts, diagnosis, surgical tips and management of ocular diseases in an interactive way to all the practicing ophthalmologists and upcoming post graduate students who have attended the event. Some of the interesting topics included diseases of the LIDS and lid position, diseases like orbital tumours and their treatment and diseases pertaining to the optic nerve and the visual pathway.

Few of the case studies that was discussed in the session were; a 6 year child with recurrent redness was treated as an allergy and it took a suspicious doctor to look at the eye lash under a microscope to see demodex a parasite.

Ravi(name changed) from Salem as a 14 year old was advised removal of his eye for a tumour melanoma. Re-examination showed it to be a possible benign variant melanocytoma and only that part needed to be excised. Today as a 21 year old he is working for a technology major.

A 24 year lady had pain discomfort around her right eye with a drop in vision which recovered. An MRI was done to rule out a pituitary tumour and with a course of steroids she had a full recovery.

The seminar has been conceptualized to bring in expert advice from doctors and discuss regarding various developments in the field of Occuloplasty. Oculoplastic surgery being the main objective of the event, which includes a variety of surgical procedures that deal with the eye socket, eyelids, tear ducts, face and the reconstruction of the eyes.

Neuro-ophthalmology is another parallel topic of discussion in the forum, a subspecialty which combines with the areas of neurology and ophthalmology, often dealing with complex systemic diseases in the visual system.

“We are extremely overwhelmed with the response received for the event which is a part of the 40th year celebration of the Sankara Movement. The session has certainly given more insights into the generally undiscussed aspects of eye care treatment, and the recent technology advancements in the field. The medical forum has been an extremely successful event today and we are looking forward in organizing similar events that will help in knowledge sharing and deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the field”, said Dr. Saptagirish Rambhatla, Dean and Head of Department, Orbit and Oculoplasty, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore.

Bengaluru: The commemoration of the 56th birthday today of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, shot dead here last year, saw differences crop up among her siblings over the SIT probe to nab the killers and the motive behind it.

While Gauri’s sister Kavitha expressed confidence on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case, their brother Indrajit said he would move the High Court for a CBI probe. “Today is Gauri’s birthday; it has been almost five months now…the investigation is like stagnant water. I personally feel that politically it (investigation) is going as one-sided,” Indrajit told reporters.

He said he had decided to move the High Court seeking a CBI investigation, because he wanted a ‘fair probe’ as he felt there was ‘political pressure’ on the SIT. “Today I have taken a decision..I have also spoken to our advocate. Very soon I will approach the High Court requesting for a CBI probe, because for five months SIT has done its job. But I somewhere feel that due to political pressure they are investigating in one particular angle,” he said.

Indrajit said he had taken the decision as he wanted to ensure that the probe was carried out in ‘all angles’ so that Gouri’s real killers were nabbed and the actual reason behind the killing known. Kavitha begged to differ saying there has been good progress in the SIT probe and she ‘trusted’ the agency. She said SIT asked for a month’s time and were updating her and her mother about the progress of the probe.

“There has been good progress.They have evidence but are taking time so that they have solid evidence to avoid any gaps. I trust them,” she told reporters in another press meet. Asked for her reaction to Indrajit’s comments, she said “I don’t know what he is saying….without speaking to (SIT) officers or knowing things, it is wrong to comment.”

On the move to seek a CBI probe into the case, she said it would only give out a wrong message as the investigation would have to start from the beginning. Moreover not one of the 13 cases from Karnataka being probed by CBI had been solved yet, she said.

“When SIT has made such a progress at the time when it is ending if it goes to CBI they will start from the beginning.”

Both siblings also differed about observing the day as ‘Gauri Day’, organized here to commemorate her 56th birthday. The function was attended by Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani, actor Prakash Raj, JNU students’ leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid and Umar Khalid, among others.

While Indrajit termed the event, which he did not attend, as one sponsored by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kavitha said it was organised by Gauri Memorial Trust and government had nothing to do with it. Indrajit said it was time society questioned Siddaramaiah and the Congress government about the culprits after five months. “I don’t think I will get justice there,” he said.

To this, Kavitha said the event was organised by the trust and money that came in as donations has been accounted for. “Anyone can check the account, it is open. Nothing from the government.. my sister always opposed any favour from the government,” she said.

The trust was formed in December 2017 in memory of Gauri Lankesh with an intention help launch a publication akin to her eponymous tabloid and to promote development and investigative journalism.

Gauri Lankesh, known to be an anti-establishment voice with strident anti-right wing views, was shot dead by unknown assailants at her home here on the night of September 5 2017. The killing led to national outrage and protests by many groups over “rising intolerance” in the country and attempts to muzzle dissent with the criticism targeted at the Modi government and right-wing groups. State Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy had in November last year said the killers would “100 per cent” be nabbed in a few weeks, even as he claimed that SIT had clues about the assailants, but those could not be disclosed at the moment.

The state government has announced Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone giving clues about perpetrators of the crime. SIT had in October released sketches of two suspects and CCTV footage in connection with the case and had sought people’s help in nabbing the accused.

Bengaluru: Gujarat’s Dalit leader and newly elected MLA Jignesh Mevani on Monday urged the Karnataka electorate to not vote for the BJP in coming Assembly polls and said he will campaign against that party in the southern state.

“I’m ready to compromise with my ideologies to save our Constitution and to keep the BJP from winning the Karnataka elections,” Mevani said, speaking at a commemoration event held here on the birth anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh.

He also said that mainstream political parties from Karnataka should form an alliance to defeat the BJP.

Mevani, MLA from Vadgam in Gujarat, said he will campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for three weeks in April. The elections are likely to be held in April-May in Karnataka.

The elections to the current 224-member Karnataka Assembly were held in May 2013.

“I will speak to the Dalits (in Karnataka) and tell them their vote shouldn’t go to the BJP,” he said.

He claimed the BJP and Prime Minister Narandra Modi had not kept their promises of providing two crore jobs every year, made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

“The government hasn’t paid much attention to jobs or farmer suicides but only focused on issues like love jihad,” he said.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission (EC) to state the factual aspects behind its decision to disqualify the 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit by filing an affidavit.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar asked the poll panel to file the affidavit after the EC said it wanted to respond to some of the allegations made in the MLAs’ pleas challenging their disqualification from the Delhi Assembly.

The commission also told the court that it would rely upon its opinion given to the President to disqualify the 20 AAP MLAs who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries.

After the brief proceedings, the court listed the matter for further hearing on February 7 by when the MLAs have to file their responses to the EC affidavit.

The court also extended till then the January 24 interim order of the single judge restraining the EC from issuing any notification announcing byelections to fill the vacancies of the 20 Assembly seats whose legislators have been disqualified.

The matter was transferred to a division bench yesterday after advocate Prashant Patel, on whose plea the EC had recommended the MLAs disqualification which received the Presidential nod, moved an application for transfer of the matter to a division bench.

Mumbai: Taking a grim view of the suicide by an octogenarian peasant demanding fair compensation for his acquired lands, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday warned its ruling ally BJP that Dharma Patil’s funeral pyre will destroy the BJP government.

Condemning the incident which happened in the state government Mantralaya where the Dhule-based 84-year-old Patil consumed poison on January 22 and succumbed during treatment six days later, the Shiv Sena launched a vitriolic attack on the BJP.

“This is not governance. The Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) should run the state, not the BJP. Your administration stands on the dead body of Dharma Patil. His funeral pyre will reduce your chair to ashes,” the Sena said in editorials in party organs ‘Saamana’ and ‘Dopahar Ka Saamana’.

It pointed out how Fadnavis was delivering speeches in Davos at the World Economic Forum summit when farmers in the state were committing suicide.

“What’s the use of foreign investment in such circumstances? Merely making speeches will not solve the questions of food, shelter and clothing. Patil has been ‘murdered’,” the Sena said.

It added that though Patil was no more, his death had sparked a new flame in the minds of the farmers suffering injustice.

Recalling the sequence of events, the Sena said Patil was offered a compensation of just Rs 400,000 for his five acres of prime, fertile land, while a neighbouring farmer with a plot of less than two acres was given Rs 20 million (Rs 2 crore).

“He sought justice at the district level, then approached Mantralaya, where he was again ignored for three months. There were 600 mango trees flourishing on his land, plus a well, drip irrigation, electric pumps, and all he wanted was adequate compensation. By giving Patil this meagre amount (Rs 400,000), the government played a cruel joke on him,” the Sena said.

When the matter erupted into a crisis, the government attempted to ‘bribe’ him with Rs 1.50 million (Rs 15 lakhs) compensation, which Patil’s family refused and asked for a fair compensation, it said.

“In the name of projects for ‘vikaas’, government-appointed ‘agents’ grab control of such land. Those farmers who strike deals through ‘agents’ get huge compensation, the rest have to settle for paltry amounts. This is the scenario,” the Sena said.

The government machinery was also equally responsible for Patil’s suicide and the concerned minister and officials should be charged with murder, it said.

Accusing the erstwhile Congress-Nationalist Congress Party goverenment, the Sena said during their 15-year rule 15,000 farmers committed suicide. So all former Chief Ministers and officials should be similarly booked.

“This government is cheating farmers in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj… In a similar situation, he would have thrown off his ministers and courtiers from mountain cliffs,” the Sena said.

Lucknow: A young man rumoured to have been killed in the communal clashes in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh on Republic Day, surfaced on Tuesday and trashed reports of his death.

The 24-year-old youth, Rahul Upadhyaya, said his death was falsely reported and after he was informed of this by a friend he has come forward to announce that he is fine.

Upadhyaya was the second youth who had been reported to have been killed in the violence along with Chandan Gupta. The news had gone viral on social media, fuelling anger among the people of the violence-hit district.

Upadhyaya told media persons that he was not even present in the town when the violence broke out. “I had gone to my village and I am hale and hearty,” he said.

The man said that people should have checked about the veracity of the rumours of his death before going ahead with condolences and condemnation.

Police had earlier said there was one death in the clashes in the aftermath of the ‘Tiranga Yatra’. Four persons have been arrested for spreading rumours on social media about the Kasganj violence and the toll.

Meanwhile, the situation in Kasganj is fast returning to normalcy with no untoward incident reported in the past 24-hours, a home department official told IANS.

Peace Committees are also doing the rounds of the areas which were singed by communal clashes on Republic Day and afterwards and urging people to ensure that there is no further trouble.

The director general of police (DGP) O.P. Singh has issued a circular to all district police chiefs to ensure that communal harmony is maintained in their respective districts.

The circular has also directed SPs and SSPs to step up vigil in communally sensitive areas and ensure police presence and patrolling there.

The circular, the first since Singh assumed charge of the top post, has directed police officials to be proactive in reacting to ‘small flash points’ and ‘settle them promptly’ so that they do not flare up into big incidents.

The police has been asked to be vigilant about social media and ensure that inflammatory and communally sensitive posts, pictures and videos do not find way to social media sites and are not distributed through mediums like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Instructions have also been issued to install CCTV cameras at vantage points and in communally sensitive areas to ensure that mischief makers are deterred. Officials have been asked to keep a close watch on religious groups, processions, events and to ensure that loudspeakers used on events are in permissible limits.

BENGALURU: TEMPTEYS – India’s first Italian gelato-based shake bar today announced its expansion in the Bengaluru market by opening its outlet in Indiranagar. Well-known actress TANYA HOPE inaugurated the outlet in the presence of the company’s representatives and a host of socialites.

The one-year-old company is rapidly expanding in the country and already has presence in 6 states through 17 outlets. “We are extremely satisfied with the response from the millennials to our beverages. Its popularity is reflected in Bengaluru through the inauguration of the second outlet by actor TANYA HOPE. We will gradually expand our footprint to the rest of the country where we spot growth opportunities,” said Mr. Krish Magapu, CEO, Tempteys.

With immense success in Hyderabad, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Pune and Vadodara, Tempteys now aims to bring its taste closer to a larger section of food lovers. The core idea of the team is to make Tempteys India’s first dedicated cold beverage café, and it plans to launch more product ranges soon.

Speaking on the occasion, Tanya Hope asserted that she was extremely delighted to open the Tempteys outlet in the cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru. “I am happy to be here in Indiranagar, which has become the hot destination of connoisseurs of food and beverages in the city. I wish the Tempteys team good luck, as they continue to give their customers a wow experience,”she added.

The company intends to launch 23 more outlets in phases across the country. Mr. Harsha Gadde, COO, Tempteys, remarked, “Customer experience is a top priority for us. This is achieved by an efficient operations team, which provides a unique experience to our customers. We are keen on serving our customers with more delectable products to cold beverage lovers.”

Tempteys, is a complete Shake Bar satisfying the sweet tooth ranging from Classic shakes to Premium and Exclusive Shakes. Its combination of shakes is lined up from local fruits to international fruits, chocolates also with custom made brownies and cakes.

The Tempteys outlet in Bengaluru is now open at #4, Ground Floor,No.1083, 5th cross, 12th main road, Opposite to Corporation Bank, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore

The spokesperson of Cruise, Mr. Mithu Nahak said, “We are elated to organize the expedition through the mesmerizing beauty of magical Rohtang pass, the dignified Khardungla Pass and a day at mesmerizing Pangong Lake, which is a dream of every rider and everyone should experience this at least once in their life. Our aim is to reach every citizen in India and give them an experience of a lifetime. In 2017, we saw nearly 10000, bikers with increase in participation from families and women riders. We are expecting the numbers would rise around 10% compared to last season. Governments in both states are keen in reforming norms to increase this adventure expedition to promote tourism. We thoroughly guarantee a fun experience, as well as ensuring safety through all our expeditions.”

Leh Ladakh Motorbike trip will enchant your life forever. A journey where you ride at your own speed, covering the distance while the cool Himalayan breeze nonchalantly kisses your face as you move swiftly through the snake laden Himalayan roads on your motorcycles is something no one should miss in their life.

Cruise, one of India’s finest travel partners can provide an entirely customized package that suits your travel plans. Cruise have always been taking care of their travelers and ensured a safe travel to make sure all the passengers are always wearing protective helmets, and have essential belongings to protect themselves from uneven roads during the trip. Also, to ensure law and order for every state, and take prior permission if needed.

About Cruise

Cruise, is an experiential tour operator which ensures an adventurous journey hale healthy and safe. The concept initiated by Orca Sail Boats Private Limited in the year 2012, finally took shape in 2017. Cruise ensures smooth access to best in cars, bikes, cruises around India, their expert team will provide the perfect package for your individual needs with a motive of thrilling experience. For more information kindly log on http://www.bookcruise.in/

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Govenor Ram Naik today termed the Kasganj communal clash as a “blot” on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur. The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for the first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as “shameful”.

In Kasganj, where the situation is tense but under control, clashes between two communities had claimed one life. At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

“Whatever happened in Kasganj was not good. The incident there is a ‘kalank’ (blot) for UP. The government is probing the incident. It should initiate effective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated,” he told reporters here.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to tone up law and order in the state.

Naidu advised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take back firearms from people as they were main cause of crime. “Those who have firearms should return weapons. I want to ask the CM that in UP a large number of people have firearms.

This is main cause of crime incidents,” Naidu had said at the first UP Diwas event here last week. He had said “law and order should be top priority”. On asked about the situation in Kasganj, UP government spokesman and senior cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh today said he has seen reports that shops are opening now.

“The situation is returning to normal, which is a good sign,” he added. As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in western UP. The UP Police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance and described the situation as improving.

Explosives were found during house-to-house searches following which the state police chief said the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against culprits. Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order. The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared.